Pneumatic control apparatus



June 12, 19.51` Q B, MOQRE 2,556,436

PNUMATIC CONTROL APPARATUS Filed April '7, 1948 INVENTOR. COLEMAN B Mooes BY A TLD 7 ATTl onnev.

Patented June 12, 1951 PNEUMATIC CONTROL APPARATUS `Coleman B. Moore, lCarroll Park, Pa., assignor .to

' Moore Products' Co., Philadelphia, Pa.,

partnership Application April 7, 1948,Serial N0. 19,502

9 Claims.

This kinvention relates to pneumatic control apparatus and more particularly to apparatus responsive to movement of an element for transmitting a controlled pressure.

This invention further relates to pneumatic control apparatus having a movable element, the motion of which is translated into a controlled fluid pressure, and in which the reacting force on the source of motion is exceedingly small.

This vinvention further relates to pneumatic control apparatus for transmitting a controlled uid Vpressureas determined by the positioning of a movable element in which a large capacity of transmitted pressure fluid is provided.

rIfhis invention further relates to pneumatic control apparatus for transmitting a controlled fluid pressure ,having more linear transmission characteristics by reason of the pressure relationships maintained therein.

This invention further relates to rpneumatic control apparatus having provisions for preventing injury to the parts thereof arising from overtravelofthe movable element in either direction.

Other advantageous features will be apparent from thespecication and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure l is a vertical .sectional View through a preferred embodimentof pneumatic control apparatus in accordancewiththe present invention, the Asainebeing partly diagrammatical;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 2-.2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 .is an enlarged vfragmentary sectional view illustrating certain of the details of construction.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and .drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

`Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now more particularly to the draw ings, the pneu-matic control apparatus in accord- .ance with the ,present invention preferably includesa casi-ng section lo having a supply Con- :nection Il in communication with a suitable source vof uidsunder pressure (not shown) and twith ajiuid delivery connection I2 for the de- Alivelyfof controlled pressure fluid to asuitable instrumentality (not shown) recording or control.

The casing section I0 is provided with a chamber I3 closed by a suitable plug Ita passageway I5 being provided in the casing section I9 between the chamber I3 and the fluid supply connection II.

A valve kis provided in the chamber I3 having a ball I1 for engagement with a seat I8, the ball Il being mounted on a valve stem I9. A light spring 20 is provided on the Valve stem I9, be tween the ball Il and the, plug Ill, which tends to urge the ball I-l to a seated position.

The valve stem I9 extends through a fluid deliverypassageway V2-2 `formed in the casingsection I@ and into, and in communication with, a chamber 23 also formed in the casing section I9.

A fluid delivery passageway 2li is also provided in the casing section Il! between the chamber 2,3 and the viluid delivery connection l2.

The casing section I0 is provided, across the top or upper end thereof, with a diaphragm 25, preferablyof the character shown and described in `my prior application for Letters Patent for Pneumatic Control Apparatus, filed December 22, 194,5, Serial No. 637,057. The diaphragm 25, as disclosed inthe said application, has a pervious central portion 26 and discharge connections 2'? forthe discharge of uid delivered to the central portion v25 to the atmosphere. The upper wall portion 28 of thediaphragm 25 is impervious to the passage of uid and the lower wall portion 29 of the diaphragm 25 is also impervious to the passage of fluid but isprovided with a central inlet port 3B which is controlled by the upper end rof the valve stern I9. The port e@ is provided in a diaphragm plate 3l in engagement with the Ilower Wall portion 29 Yof the diaphragm member 25, and a spring 35 is interposed in the chamber 23 between the diaphragm plate 3l and the casing section Ill.

Another casing section 40 is provided, alined with the casing section Il] to provide a chamber 4I in communciation with the upper face of the diaphragm 25, as hereinafter explained.

-Another casing section 42 is provided, alined with the .casing section 4) and the casing secfor indication,

.tion I0,anda wall member 43 is interposedfbetween the casing section 4U and the casing secvtion 42 to separate the chamber lll from a .cham- `'low tubular extension llt. The upper end of the --tubular extension 4:6 is closedby an upper vfend cap 41, the cap 41 being held in position by a retaining nut 48 in threaded engagement with the upper end of the tubular extension 45. The wall plate 45 has mounted therein in threaded engagement therewith an adjusting sleeve 49, the outer or free end 55 of which is accessible for turning for adjustment. A lock nut 5I is provided, in engagement with the threaded exterior of the sleeve 49, for locking the sleeve 49 in the desired position of adjustment.

The sleeve 49 is provided on the inner end with an upper spring seating plate 55 with which one end of a spring 55 is in engagement, the other end of the spring 55 being in engagement with a lower spring seat 51, also in the form of a plate.

The lower spring seating plate 51 has one end of a flexible metallic bellows 6G secured thereto in uid tight relationship, the other end of the bellows 60 being secured in fluid tight relationship to the plate 45.

The lower spring seating plate 51 has a tubular member 9| thereon which extends through an opening 62 in the plate 45 and is provided, at its lower or inner end with a bellows closure plate 63 also secured thereto in fluid tight relationship.

A flexible metallic bellows 64 is provided, secured in iluid tight relationship at one end to the bellows closure plate 63 and at the other end to the interior of the plate 45. The bellows 6I) and 64 are preferably matched as to their characteristics, including effective area, prior to assembly.

A chamber 59 is thus provided in the interior of the bellows 60, the opening B2 and the bellows 64.

The upper portion of the tubular member 6I is enlarged, as at 55, so as to serve as a stop for limiting downward movement of the bellows assembly and the plate 45 is provided with a sleeve 66, extending downwardly therefrom, which serves as a stop for engagement by the bellows closure plate 63 for limiting the upward movement of the bellows assembly.

The tubular member 5l is provided with a central opening 61 at the upper end of which an orifice plate Bs is mounted having an orifice 'I2 therethrough. rEhe central opening 61 is in communication with the chamber 59 in the interior of the bellows 59 through a passageway 59 provided in the tubular member 6I.

The chamber 59 in the interior of the bellows 5D and of the bellows 54 is connected by a uid passageway 10 and a fluid passageway 'Il with the chamber 4I and the passageway 'I5 extends to the discharge side of a restriction 15, the opposite side of the restriction being in communication with the supply connection II.

As illustrated in Fig. 2 the restriction 15 may comprise a screw plug 15 mounted in the casing section lil with a central supply port 11 communicating with the supply connection I I and an inserted tube 18 having the desired bore connected to the passageway 1U.

The chamber 23 is also in communication with the chamber 44 through a uid connection 19.

A plunger Sis provided, connected to the desired source of motion, which may be derived from an instrument or measuring device. It will be noted that the plunger 80 is relatively long, and in a preferred form is made from a piece of wire of a diameter of the order of The plunger 8B extends through the orifice 12 and one portion 8 I, near the lower end and of reduced diameter to provide a shoulder 82 is normally intended to be disposed at or adjacent the orifice plate 68. The maximum diameter of the plunger 89 is, however, slightly less than the diameter of the orice 12 in the orifice plate 58 so that the plunger 89 is capable of passing through the orice 12 in either direction without injury to the plunger 39 or to the orice 12.

The Inode of operation will now be pointed out, it being assumed rst that the apparatus is in a balanced or normal condition and with the plunger 89 at a particular position for delivering pressure iluid at a regulated level of pressure. Supply uid under pressure, such as filtered air, is supplied to and through the inlet connection Il to the chamber I3.

A portion of the fluid, the pressure of which is determined by the positioning of the valve ball I1, is delivered through the delivery passageway 22 to the chamber 23 and therefrom through the passageway 24 to the delivery connection I2.

The pressure effective in the chamber 23 and against the underside of the diaphragm 25, against which the spring 35 is also effective, is also available through the passageway 19 and in the chamber 44 against the exterior of the bellows 64 and the exterior of the bellows closure plate 63.

A part of the supplied uid available at the inlet connection Il is delivered through the restriction 15 and through the passageway 'I0 to the chamber 59, and through the passageways 10 and 1I to the chamber 4I.

The pressure of the uid in the chamber 59 is effective in the interior of the bellows 69 and 64 and the same pressure is effective in the chamber 4I against the upper face of the diaphragm 25. Fluid supplied to the chamber 59 escapes from the bellows assembly through the port in the orice plate 68 which is controlled by the plunger 80.

Assume now a downward movement of the plunger 89 of a denite distance which moves the shoulder B2 downwardly with respect to the orice 12 in the oriiice plate 53 and permits more duid to escape from the chamber 59. The pressure in the chamber 59 is thus reduced with a corresponding reduction of the pressure in the chamber 4I. The reduction of the pressure in the chamber 4I tends to permit the diaphragm 25 to move upwardly thereby tending to move the valve ball I1 closer to its seat I3 and reducing the pressure effective in the chamber 23. This pressure reduction is also eiective in the chamber 44 and permits the bellows assembly to move downwardly until the relationship between the plunger 85 and the opening 12 in the orifice plate 58 is restored to equilibrium.

Upon an upward movement of the plunger of a denite distance, the shoulder 82 is moved upwardly with respect to the orifice 12, so that the plunger reduces the escape of fluid from the chamber 59. The pressure in the chamber 59 is thus increased with a corresponding increase in the pressure in the chamber 4 I. The increase of the pressure in the chamber 4I tends to permit the diaphragm 25 to move downwardly, thereby tending to move the valve ball I1 further from its seat and increasing the pressure effective in the chamber 23. This pressure increase is also effective in the chamber 44 and tends to force the bellows assembly to move upwardly until the relationship between the plunger 80 and the opening l2 in the oriiice plate 8 is restoredgto equiflibrium.

The range of the transmitted pressure, that is, the relationship between the ,movement of the plunger 85 and the pressure available at the fluid deliveryiconnection l2 is determined by the com- .bined spring .rates ofthespringiand the bellows 6i) land'll'andbythe eifectiverarea of the bellows 60 and 64. The transmitted pressure change acting on the eifective area of the bellows 64 is equal to the force change necessary to produce motion of the bellows assembly equal to the motion of the plunger 80. This assumes that for equilibrium conditions there will be a negligible displacement between the plunger 8D and the opening 'I2 in the orice plate 58, which is in fact the case. Very little force is required to be asserted on the plunger 30, and the `pneumatic control apparatus is, accordingly, suitable for transmitting motion produced by very small force displacement. The reaction on the source of motion is equal to the weight of the plunger 80, which is a constant, less the product of the pressure effective in the chamber 59 and the cross sectional area of the plunger 80. The pressure effective at the chamber 59 varies with different values of the transmitted pressure, but, by reason of the spring 35 effective on the lower side of the diaphragm 25, a constant differential yof predetermined value is provided between the pressure effective in the chamber 4| and the pressure available in the chamber 23 for transmission. The use of a pressure in the chamber 59 which is higher than the transmitted pressure enhances the linearity of the. system.

The positioning of the orifice plate 68 with respect to the plunger Si) for zero adjustment may be readily effected by turning the sleeve 49 to the desired position to vary the eifect of the spring 55 on the upper spring seating plate 5l and therethrough onto the bellows assembly.

The diaphragm 25, by its positioning of the port 3l) with respect to the upper end of the Valve rod I9, provides for an automatic bleed for exhausting excess fluid through the pervious center of the diaphragm 25 and through the passageway '21 to atmosphere.

I claim:

1. In pneumatic control apparatus, a movable bellows assembly having an interior chamber, means for applying a fluid pressure against an exterior portion of said assembly, means for supplying pressure fluid to said interior chamber, and means for controlling the discharge of fluid from said chamber comprising a member having an orifice carried by said assembly and a control member for varying the effective area of said orifice movable in said orice and having a portion of reduced diameter normally disposed in said orifice.

2. In pneumatic control apparatus, a movable bellows assembly having an interior chamber, means for applying a fluid vpressure against an exterior portion of said assembly, means including a restriction for supplying pressure fluid to said interior chamber, and means for controlling the discharge of fluid from said chamber comprising a member having an orifice carried by said assembly and a control rod for varying the effective area of the orifice movable in said orice and having a portion of reduced diameter normally disposed in said orifice.

3. In pneumatic control apparatus, a movable bellows assembly having an interior chamber, means for applying a pressure Viluid against an B exterior portion of-said assembly, means for supplying pressure fluid to said interior chamber, and means for controlling the `discharge 'of -iluid from said chamber comprising a member havingfanJoricecarr-ied by -said assembly and acontrol member vfor varying -the V'effective farea of said orifice, saidV Acontrol member `having a throttling portion freely movable through said Aorilice and -a support for said throttling lportion of reduced cross section normally disposed within Isaid orifice.

4. In pneumatic control apparatus, a movable bellows assembly having an interior chamber, means for applying a Huid pressure against an exterior portion of said assembly, means for supplying pressure fluid to said interior chamber, and means for controlling the discharge of iiuid from said chamber comprising a member having an orice carried by said assembly and a control rod for varying the effective area of the orice having a portion of reduced cross section movable in said orice, said rod being smaller in size than said orice and freely movable therethrough.

5. In pneumatic control apparatus, a movable bellows assembly having an interior chamber, means for applying a fluid pressure against an exterior portion of said assembly, means for supplying pressure fluid to said interior chamber, and means for controlling the discharge of fluid from said chamber comprising an orifice plate carried by said assembly having an orifice and a control rod for varying the effective area of the orifice of a size less than that of said oriiice and having a portion of reduced cross section normally disposed in said orifice.

6. In pneumatic control apparatus, a support, a pair of opposed bellows closed at their outer ends and carried at their inner ends on said support and having an interior chamber, a connecting member for the outer ends of said bellows, means for supplying pressure uid to the interior of said chamber, means for applying fluid pressure against an exterior portion of said bellows, and valve means for controlling the discharge of fluid from said chamber.

'7. In pneumatic control apparatus, a support, a pair of opposed bellows closed at their outer ends and mounted at their inner ends on said support and having an interior chamber, a connecting member for the outer ends of said bellows, means for supplying pressure fluid to the interior of said chamber, means for applying fluid pressure against an exterior portion of said bellows, and valve means for controlling the discharge of fluid from said chamber, said valve means including a member having an orifice and a movable control member for varying the eiTective area of said orifice.

8. In pneumatic control apparatus, a pair of spaced pressure responsive members connected for movement together and having a chamber therebetween, a fluid connection for supplying pressure uid to said chamber, means for applying uid under pressure against an exterior portion of one of said members, the other of said pressure responsive members having a discharge opening therein, and a valve member movable with respect to said opening for determining the discharge of fluid from said chamber through said opening.

9. In pneumatic control apparatus, a support, a pair of spaced movable wall members carried by said support and providing with said support an interior chamber, a connection between said v 2,556,436 7 8 wal1 members for effecting simultaneous move- REFERENCES CITED ment thereof, a Iiuid connection for supplying fluid under pressure to said chamber, valve means for exhausting fluid from said chamber, said The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

valve means including a valve member and an 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS opening in one of said Wall members relatively Number Name Dai-,e movable with respect to each other, and a. fluid 2,356,970 Broekett Aug. 29, 1944 connection for applying fluid under pressure 2,433,577 Poole Dec. 30, 1947 against an exterior face of one of said Wall members. l@

COLEMAN B. MOORE. 

